Mercy Basilica

The Basílica de la Mare de Déu de la Mercè, known simply as the Basílica de la Mercè, is a Baroque-style church in the Plaça de la Mercè, in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. It was built between 1765 and 1775, designed by the Catalan architect Josep Mas i Dordal. It is dedicated to the Mare de Déu de la Mercè as the patron saint of Barcelona, and is one of the most representative churches in the city.

The current church stands on the site of a previous medieval church, built between 1249-1267, which was the first church of the Order of Mercy and was expanded in the Gothic style in the 14th and 15th centuries. It formed a complex of church and convent of the same order, but the convent building was confiscated in 1835, first becoming a school and currently serving as the headquarters of the Captaincy General of the Fourth Military Region.

The Temple of La Mercè underwent a Gothic expansion in the 14th and 15th centuries, forming a complex with the church and the convent of the same order. Over time, the popularity and devotion to the Mare de Déu de la Mercè had grown significantly, prompting the expansion of the temple. Initially, the architect Joan Garrido i Bertran was tasked with the expansion project, but eventually, the Mercedarian community decided to demolish the medieval church and build a new one according to a design by Josep Mas i Dordal. The construction began in 1765 and the church was reconsecrated in 1765, although the work continued until 1777. The ornamental decoration of the façade, by Carles Grau, stands out.

Between 1808 and 1814, due to the Peninsular War, the church and the convent were looted, and later in 1835, they were confiscated. That year the state seized the convent, turning it into barracks (1844-1845), then into a military casino in 1845, and finally, from 1846 to the present, it has been the headquarters of the Captaincy General of the Fourth Military Region.